Here's chapter fifty - nine. Thank you Eddie Camp and caitlinkeitorin for reviewing last chapter!
Chapter Fifty - Nine: The Knight
Gillick's eyes shifted sideways. "Are you done yet?" he grumbled, thinking of thousand better things he could be doing.
The woman in the chair didn't even spare him a glance. "It'll be done when it's done," she responded as she drew the needle up through another hole in his shirt.
The black - haired boy rubbed his temples, his head aching. He'd spent the night searching for information on the Keybladers - for signs of them - and had found nothing. During the early hours of the morning, he'd found the small village he was now in, and had decided to use the opportunity to get his tattered clothes mended. Unfortunately, the woman he'd paid was taking longer than he'd hoped.
He slowly let his tired eyes wander around the room. The alighted on an old painting on one of the walls. Frowning, he pushed himself up and walked over towards it. "What's this?" he asked, pulling it off the wall and examining it curiously. A heart shaped moon? he wondered, amber eyes narrowed.
"Careful with that!" the woman warned, looking up from her work.
He looked back at her, for the moment keeping the painting in his hand. "Well?" he asked, as if she'd never spoken.
The woman sighed, turning back to her work. "If you must know," she began, "it's from an old legend…one not many people remember. It's said that that moon was a legendary kingdom. It's said that there were once many knights of that kingdom, but now there's only one. It comes out only at night, to collect hearts for its kingdom."
Gillick felt his blood run cold. "I see," he said slowly, putting the painting back up on the wall. There was only one knight who was image was burned into his head from that story: the Knight. Could this legend have a grain of truth, then? He remembered when he and Trevor had been attacked by the Knight when they were young and shivered involuntarily. Now more than ever, he wondered who - or what - the Knight was. I need to find out, he thought, his gaze hardening. After all, knowing the identity of an enemy would bring him one step closer to beating it. And he knew that he had to defeat it.
"Here." The woman's voice broke him out of his thoughts, and he turned and caught his mended shirt as she threw it towards him. "Is there anything else I can do for you?"
"No," Gillick responded immediately as he slipped his shirt back on. The woman made a disapproving noise at his brusqueness, but he ignored it, instead fixing his shoulder plates, straps, and sheathed sword back into place. He left the house without another word.
He walked slowly out of town, dawn coloring the sky. He didn't have enough money to pay for an inn, and knew he'd have to find someplace to sleep out in the forest. His eyes narrowed as he thought of the Knight. One day, I will face you again. And this time, I will win.
After all, now he had more that he wanted to protect.
Xuren bowed his head before Viril, who was looking at him with his hidden eyes in the large, dark throne room of the Dark Army's main base of operations. "You're telling me," he said slowly, "that the Knight attacked you, and I didn't hear about it until now?"
"I didn't think it was that important, sir," Xuren responded, amber eyes flaring. He flashed a wicked grin. "After all, we chased it off."
Viril stood and walked towards the dark Keyblader. "Nothing chases the Knight off." Xuren quirked an eyebrow, his grin falling. How could he be so sure?
He didn't have much time to ponder it as Viril stopped beside him. "Next time the Knight attacks you, report to me immediately," he ordered.
"I didn't know you were that concerned for my safety," Xuren mocked.
"I'm not," Viril replied instantly. "The Knight, however…is something I need to know about." He exited the throne room without another word, leaving Xuren alone.
The dark Keyblader felt his fists slowly clench. He remembered when the Knight had attacked the town he was in, after Viril had been furious at him for disobeying orders. It had seemed too convenient. And now, the Dark Army leader had openly admitted that he was more concerned with information about this monster than the safety of his Keybladers. Not that this fact bothered him; on the contrary, he preferred it. However, it did point towards a startling idea.
If there was one thing Xuren hated, it was being made to be afraid. The Knight had done exactly that to him.
Xuren snorted, a sneer crossing his face. Well, maybe I don't want to work with someone who's so interested in a creature like that. A wide grin suddenly crossed his face, his amber eyes growing wide and flaring with manic delight. Maybe I'll take things into my own hands.
Trevor paced slowly through the regions of the main Light Army stronghold, his hands folded behind his back. His lips twisted downwards into a frown as he looked up at the ceiling. I wonder what Master Tollun wants? he thought. He heaved a sigh, his shoulders slumping. Ever since his fight with his brother, he'd had troubling thoughts about his leader. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't push them away; he couldn't destroy them.
There was always doubt. He hated it.
He lifted a hand and touched the skin just below one of his eyes. He was sure that, at the moment, it was as blue as ever. But he could feel power, pulsing inside him, a snarling beast ready and waiting to break free of its cage. It terrified him. What happens if I'm stronger than Master Tollun? he wondered, feeling his body quiver at the thought. What do I do then?
He had no more time to contemplate those troubling thoughts, however, as he arrived at the door to Tollun's office.
He lifted his hand and knocked on the door and, after a command of "Enter!" pushed through into the room.
Tollun was sitting at his desk at the far end, his head bowed and his hands steepled in thought. "You wanted to see me?" Trevor asked hesitantly, stepping further into the room.
Tollun looked up at his approach. "Yes," his master responded. "Something needs to be done about the Silver Fang."
Trevor nodded. "I know," he responded, "but we haven't located them yet."
Tollun's eyes narrowed in thought. "Or perhaps they simply need to be flushed out of hiding." Trevor felt confusion flush through him, but Tollun continued on without paying any heed to it. "When they appear, I want you to lead the attack against them."
"But, sir, how will we get them to come out?" he blurted, then blanched, appalled. I just questioned my leader!
The leader of the Light Army, however, didn't seem to take offense. Instead, his silver eyes glinted oddly, and he replied, "Just leave that to me, Trevor."
Mala waited just outside the Silver Fang camp, her arms folded across her chest. "He's not coming, is he?" she murmured under her breath, though the only one around to hear her was Riun. His only response was to look dejected and allow his shoulders to slump.
"You aren't surprised, are you?" a voice asked.
Both jumped, and whipped their heads around to see Allia approaching them from the bushes. "H-how long have you been there?" Mala stammered, alarmed, while Riun hid slightly behind the girl.
"Long enough," the assassin responded dryly. She raised an eyebrow at them. "He may sometimes be reckless, but he's not an idiot; he wouldn't come back so soon after knocking Silver on her ass."
Mala gripped her arms tightly, looking away. "I know. It's just…"
"Just what?" Allia questioned as she trailed off.
Mala shook her head. "It's…nothing. Forget I said anything."
Allia didn't look like she believed her, but comment aloud. Instead, she responded, "Well, I'm going to head back to camp."
An eerie cry, however, halted her in her tracks. She lifted her head, cocking it to one side as she looked up to the sky. "What was that?"
Mala and Riun had both grown stiff. No. It can't be…! But a shadow flitting overhead proved her wrong. She stared up, numb with horror, as the apparition briefly blocked out the light of the sun. Riun's stuttering voice said what she could not. "I-it's the Knight!"
No sooner had he said it than fire came hurtling down out of the sky, the flaming ball causing a small tremor and igniting the grass around them. Mala felt fear begin to take over. It had been a while…since she'd been so close to the Knight. She couldn't think…she couldn't breath…she could only stand frozen as the fire raged around her.
Then she felt someone shake her shoulder. "What are you doing?" Allia hissed. "We've got to run!"
The assassin's insistent voice snapped her out of her trance, and she immediately took off in the direction of the Silver Fang camp, Allia and Riun following behind.
When they arrived, they were greeted by chaos. The Silver Fang warriors were rushing around the camp, some fleeing desperately away, and others racing to fight the monster that now stood in their midst. Mala skidded to a stop, realizing that she'd fled in the wrong direction. The Knight was standing amidst burning tents, whipping its head around to glower at whatever stood in its path with hidden eyes. A Silver Fang warrior lunged for it, but the monster caught his throat in one clawed hand, thrusting the other through the man's stomach. There was a gurgling sound, and then a squelch as the Knight withdrew its hand, dropping the lifeless body of the warrior onto the ground. The other Silver Fang that hovered around it quailed at this sight, suddenly seeming hesitant to attack. The Knight didn't give them the chance to decide; it lunged for the nearest one. He let out a cry of alarm that quickly turned into a bloody gasp as the creature's fist slammed into his chest. A woman attacked it from behind with a cry of fury, but she was unable to save the man from the lightning that jolted through his body. The woman was flung off by a wing that slid out of the monster's back, and was immediately jumped upon, blood spraying from her as the Knight mauled her.
Several Silver Fang warriors fled at the sight.
"Mala! Allia! Riun!" She didn't turn as she heard Silver's voice and approach. The leader of the Silver Fang skidded to a halt beside them, green eyes wide as she stared at the invader in her camp. "What is that thing?"
"Apparently, it's that Knight monster these two claimed killed those travelers," Allia responded, jerking her thumb towards Mala and Riun.
"N-normally it only comes out at night," Mala whispered, still held in captive fear by the monster.
Silver seemed surprised, then turned her gaze back to the Knight. "Well, no time to worry about why it changed now." She passed Mala her bow and arrows. The thief stared at them dumbly for a few moments before Silver hissed in exasperation, "Well? Go on, take them!" Mala jerked at her voice, then slowly curled her fingers around the weapons.
Silver jerked her swords out of their sheaths. "Now, it's time to fight."
Mala returned from her stupor at the action. "You can't fight that thing!" she screeched. "It'll kill you!"
Silver, however, paid no heed to her warning. The Knight fired a blast of ice at one of the Silver Fang, encasing the woman's left side. Silver let out a battle cry, drawing the monster's attention to her as she swung her dual weapons towards its head. It lifted its hands and fired off a Fira spell. Silver quickly dragged her swords in front of her, crossing them in an X to block the attack. Most of the damage from the spell was negated, but the force of the attack still sent her sprawling backwards.
Allia suddenly appeared behind the creature, dragging one of her poisoned daggers towards the exposed area on its upper arm. Wind surrounded it, however, propelling the assassin backward. She recovered quickly, darting back in to deliver a blow. This time she was blocked by an armored hand. A Thundaga spell rained down on her, causing her to let out a cry of pain.
Silver took the opening to slash at the monster. The attack hit its armored midsection, not doing any damage, and the woman was nearly impaled by one of the Knight's clawed hands. The action, however, distracted it enough so that it released its captive. She darted towards Allia, sheathing one of her swords and grabbing her in her free hand. Her speed was her saving grace; she managed to get them both out before they could be engulfed by the Knight's Firaga spell. "Thanks," Allia managed.
"Don't thank me just yet," Silver muttered, looking grim.
The Knight turned to look towards them. There was a slight hissing sound from inside its helmet, and its eyes glowed briefly through the shaded visor. Mala flinched backwards, dragging Riun away from the scene. She looked wide - eyed at the Knight and its targets. I have to help them. I have to help them. She lifted her bow, shakily stringing an arrow and firing it. The weapon ricochet off of metal, and she stifled a cry of alarm, but the Knight remained focused on its current targets. Fear over-rode any other desires, and she huddled near a fallen tent with the young boy kept close to her side.
The Knight lunged for the two women, who jumped opposite ways. Silver lunged in first, attempting to use her twin swords to cut into the upper arm. The Knight, however, lifted a gauntleted hand, and the two strikes rang in succession off the metal. Allia attacked while the monster was distracted by Silver's strike, but it whirled around quickly and kicked her in the stomach, sending her flying. Silver, who was still nearby, attempted to strike its helmet. It shifted slightly, though it seemed more for positioning rather than dodging, and the blow instead hit one of its shoulder plates. It lifted the hand closest to the woman. A fleeting look of horror crossed her face, and she dropped to the ground just before the ball of fire incinerated her.
Beside Mala, Riun took a shaking breath. He hurried out of his hiding place. "Riun, what are you doing?" Mala screeched, instinctively going after him.
He paid her no heed, however, and lifted his hands and pointed them towards the Knight. "F-Fira!" he stammered, a fire ball shooting from his palms towards the monster. It collided with armor, seeming to do no damage. It did, however, attracted its attention. It growled quietly, then lunged towards the boy. Riun froze with fear, his eyes growing wide.
Mala skidded to a halt, looking at the approaching terror with wide eyes as fear thrilled through her veins. Move…I have to move…! If she didn't do something, Riun would…
Feeling as if her actions belonged to someone else, she lifted her bow and strung an arrow, sending the projectile flying in the same instant. Her hand had been shaking slightly, causing her aim to be off; instead of colliding with the bare flesh of the upper arms, it glanced off the side of the Knight's head. The helmet turned slightly, and the Knight hissed furiously as it slowly slid back into place. It whipped out an arm, sending both Mala and Riun flying and skidding across the ground.
Mala expected it to attack them again, but instead it turned its attention to the other remaining Silver Fang warriors. She scrambled over to Riun, checking the boy for injury and breathing a sigh of relief when he seemed relatively uninjured, though shaken. No thanks to you, a voice scolded her silently. Feeling guilt pulse in her heart, she turned her attention back to the Knight.
It was quickly taking care of any Silver Fang nearby. It grabbed one woman and twisted her head sharply to one side, breaking her neck, before swinging her limp body back at the man was raced forward after her. "Leave them alone!" Silver snarled, rushing forwards and slamming her swords across the monster's back. As the Knight screeched, Silver called out, "Silver Fang, retreat! Get to safety, now!"
Then the Knight grabbed her throat in its hand. She struggled against it, flailing her blades as the monster dragged a hand back to strike. Allia, however, was able to intervene before the attack could occur, her daggers flashing towards the exposed flesh. The Knight dropped Silver to block the attack, sending the other woman flying with a powerful Fira spell. Silver was struggling up, trying to move away from the monster while she caught her breath. Allia was also pushing herself up, muttering, "Fire…why is it always fire?"
The Knight, however, didn't intend to give them much time to recover. It lunged for Silver, pointed tips of its fingers outstretched. Silver rolled away, unable to regain her feet in time. The Knight continued after her, not giving her time to recover. Allia, who had burns down one side, threw a couple of knives, but the weapons clattered uselessly against armor. Though the two women were brave, the Knight was swiftly draining their energy.
Mala whimpered slightly as she watched. Gillick…where are you? We need you now. She looked at Riun, and knew the boy wouldn't be able to fight the monster any more. Shame instantly washed over her. This little boy was braver than her. She knew immediately what Gillick would say: Stop being such a coward and fight!
She lifted her head, watching as Silver and Allia fought against the Knight, then gave a slow nod. I'm…going to do something to help, she decided, slowly standing. She lifted her bow, stringing an arrow and drawing the weapon back so that the feathered end was near her ear. Her breathing calmed, her pulse slowing as her resolve strengthened. This time, she wouldn't miss; she was sure of it.
Initially, she planned on aiming for the arm; however, on second thought, she decided to shoot for the head. After all, the helmet had moved when she glanced it by accident; if she hit it with more force, it might come completely off. If they knew who - or what - was hiding beneath that helmet, then perhaps they'd stand a better chance at beating it. She blinked slowly, in that split second her years of living as a thief flashing behind her eyes. I survived for so long on the streets…terrified, alone, and only acting to save my own life. Even after I left, and began this journey, I couldn't completely leave that life behind me. I was still living like a thief. But I can't live like that anymore. As she took a steadying breath, she silently whispered, Gillick…thank you.
Then she released.
The arrow flew true, a blur through the air. The Knight looked up from its attack on Silver and Allia. The projectile struck it head on. It let out a cry as the helmet was torn off its head by the force. The arrow continued on to imbed itself in a post that held up a miraculously still standing tent nearby. The helmet fell into the dirt.
Mala froze, her whole body growing cold. Shock and horror filled her heart; she knew the face that stared back at her. "Gillick?"
And that'd be the end of chapter fifty - nine. Reviews would be awesome, please?